Lantana plant named ‘G12166’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Lantana  plant named ‘G12166’, characterized by its compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy plant form; medium-sized dark green-colored leaves; freely flowering habit; plants flower continuously throughout the summer; flowers that are initially light orange in color and with development become dark orange in color; flowers that do not produce fruits and seeds; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Lantana camara.

Cultivar denomination: ‘G12166’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lantana plant, botanically known as Lantana camara and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘G12166’.

The new Lantana plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Bellefonte, Pa. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact and freely-branching Lantana plants with attractive flower coloration.

The new Lantana plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor during the summer of 2011 in Bellefonte, Pa. of Lantana camara ‘Carolina Bright Orange’, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unnamed seedling selection of Lantana camara, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Lantana plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant from within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. on Feb. 23, 2012.

Asexual reproduction of the new Lantana plant by vegetative cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Bellefonte, Pa. since May 16, 2012 has shown that the unique features of this new Lantana plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Lantana have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘G12166’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘G12166’ as a new and distinct Lantana plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy plant form.     -   3. Medium-sized dark green-colored leaves.     -   4. Freely flowering habit; plants flower continuously throughout         the summer.     -   5. Flowers that are initially light orange in color and with         development become dark orange yellow in color.     -   6. Flowers that do not produce fruits and seeds.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Lantana can be compared to plants of the female parent, ‘Carolina Bright Orange’. Plants of the new Lantana differ primarily from plants of ‘Carolina Bright Orange’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lantana are more compact than plants of         ‘Carolina Bright Orange’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lantana are more upright than plants of         ‘Carolina Bright Orange’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lantana are more freely branching and         denser than plants of ‘Carolina Bright Orange’.     -   4. Plants of the new Lantana have darker green-colored leaves         than plants of ‘Carolina Bright Orange’.     -   5. Plants of the new Lantana flower more continuously than         plants of ‘Carolina Bright Orange’.     -   6. Plants of the new Lantana and ‘Carolina Bright Orange’ differ         in flower color.     -   7. Plants of the new Lantana do not produce fruits and seeds         whereas plants of ‘Carolina Bright Orange’ produce fruits and         seeds.

Plants of the new Lantana can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Lantana differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lantana are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Lantana are more upright than plants of the         male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Lantana are more freely branching and         denser than plants of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Lantana have larger leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   5. Plants of the new Lantana and the male parent selection         differ in flower color.

Plants of the new Lantana can be compared to plants of the Lantana sp. ‘Balandcit’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,652. Plants of the new Lantana differ from plants of ‘Balandcit’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lantana are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of ‘Balandcit’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lantana are more freely branching and         denser than plants of ‘Balandcit’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lantana have smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Balandcit’.     -   4. Plants of the new Lantana and ‘Balandcit’ differ in flower         color.     -   5. Plants of the new Lantana do not produce fruits and seeds         whereas plants of ‘Balandcit’ produce fruits and seeds.

Plants of the new Lantana can also be compared to plants of the Lantana camara ‘2003.301’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 19,706. Plants of the new Lantana differ from plants of ‘2003.301’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Lantana are more compact than and not as         vigorous as plants of ‘2003.301’.     -   2. Plants of the new Lantana are more upright than plants of         ‘2003.301’.     -   3. Plants of the new Lantana are more freely branching and         denser than plants of ‘2003.301’.     -   4. Plants of the new Lantana have smaller leaves than plants of         ‘2003.301’.     -   5. Plants of the new Lantana and ‘2003.301’ differ in flower         color.     -   6. Plants of the new Lantana do not produce fruits and seeds         whereas plants of ‘2003.301’ produce fruits and seeds.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Lantana plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Lantana plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G12166’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘G12166’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 11.5-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. and under commercial practices typical of commercial Lantana production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from 24° C. to 27° C., night temperatures ranged from 18° C. to 21° C. and light levels averaged 7,000 foot-candles. Plants were grown under long day/short night photoinductive conditions. Plants were pinched two times and were six weeks old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Lantana camara ‘G12166’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Lantana camara ‘Carolina Bright             Orange’, not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unnamed seedling selection of             Lantana camara, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About ten days at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About two weeks at             temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About three             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About four             weeks at temperatures about 22° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; medium in thickness.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright to outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; moderately vigorous             growth habit and moderate growth rate.         -   Plant height.—About 16.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 27 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Branching habit.—Freely branching habit with about three             primary lateral branches developing per plant; each primary             lateral branch with potentially two secondary lateral             branches developing at every node; pinching enhances lateral             branch development.         -   Length.—About 18 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4.5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 3.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Texture.—Pubescent; minute; longitudinally ridged; woody             towards the base.         -   Color, young stems.—Close to 146B.         -   Color, mature stems.—Close to N199A. -   Leaf description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple.         -   Length.—About 6 cm.         -   Width.—About 4.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Serrate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Coarse             and rough, leathery; pubescent, minute.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate to reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to N137A; venation,             close to N137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 147B; venation, close to 147D.         -   Petiole length.—About 1.4 cm.         -   Petiole diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Petiole texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent,             minute.         -   Petiole color, upper and lower surfaces.—Close to 146B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and flowering habit.—Solitary tubular to             somewhat salverform flowers arranged in terminal and             axillary hemispherical umbels; flowers face mostly upward or             outward; freely flowering habit with about 30 flowers             developing per inflorescence and about 15 inflorescences             developing per lateral branch.         -   Natural flowering season.—Long flowering period; plants of             the new Lantana flower continuously from spring until frost             in Southern California; depending on temperatures, plants             begin flowering about six to eight weeks after planting.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About two to three days;             flowers not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Mildly fragrant; spicy and fruity.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 2 cm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 4 cm.         -   Flowers.—Appearance: Flared trumpet, corolla fused,             five-parted; sessile. Diameter: About 1 cm by 1.3 cm. Depth             (height): About 2.3 cm. Throat diameter: About 1 mm. Tube             diameter: About 2 mm. Tube length: About 1.7 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.5 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Shape: Tubular, narrow with rounded apex. Color: Close to             N163A.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Single whorl of five (occasionally             four) fused petals. Petal lobe length: About 5 mm to 7 mm.             Petal lobe width: About 4 mm to 7 mm. Petal lobe shape:             Rounded. Petal lobe apex: Rounded, sinuate; curling             downwardly. Petal margin: Mostly entire. Petal texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Throat and tube             texture: Pubescent. Color: When opening, upper surface:             Close to N163C. When opening, lower surface: Close to 20A.             Fully opened, upper surface: Close to 169B to 169C; color             becoming closer to 169A to 169B with development. Fully             opened, lower surface: Close to N163D; color does not change             with development. Throat: Close to 21C. Tube: Close to 22A.         -   Calyx.—Appearance: Short and narrow tubular calyx with four             fused sepals. Length: About 2 mm. Diameter: Less than 1 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acute. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture, inner surface: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal             texture, outer surface: Pubescent, minute. Sepal color,             inner and outer surfaces: Close to N144B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.2 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent, minute. Color: Close             to 146B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity and arrangement: Four             per flower, adnate to floral tube. Filament length: Less             than 1 mm. Filament color: Close to 16B. Anther length: Less             than 1 mm. Anther shape: Oval. Anther color: Close to 15C.             Pollen amount: Very scarce. Pollen color: Close to 15C.             Pistils: Quantity: One per flower. Pistil length: About             3 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma color: Close to 145B.             Style length: About 2 mm. Style color: Close to 145D. Ovary             color: Close to 145B. Fruits and seeds: Fruit and seed             development have not been observed on plants of the new             Lantana. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Lantana have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about −3° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest tolerance: Plants of the new Lantana have been     observed to be tolerant to Powdery Mildew. Plants of the new Lantana     have not been observed to be tolerant to pests and other pathogens     common to Lantana plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Lantana plant named ‘G12166’ as illustrated and described. 